| Are you a WAHM (work at home mom)? Or maybe | | | | baby and a successful mommy! |
| you'd like to be one? | | | | |
| | | | Also, consider working for yourself in a home |
| You've made a great decision. As a work at | | | | business instead of working an at-home "job". |
| home mom you get the best of both worlds. You | | | | You'll have much less stress because you'll |
| are home with your kids so they are being | | | | answer to you, not your boss, and you won't |
| raised by you instead of a daycare worker, | | | | feel like you're trying to compete with the |
| and you also are making an income to support | | | | others at the office. Plus, you'll be earning |
| your family. Work at home moms have it all - | | | | money for yourself and growing your business |
| the joy of their children, the mental | | | | instead of working to make your boss rich. |
| stimulation of a career, and a stress-free, | | | | |
| comfortable work environment. | | | | Key to Success #3: Practice Good Self-Care |
| | | | |
| "Wait!" You say, "WAHM jobs are not | | | | During your baby's alone activity time and |
| stress-free!" Well ladies I'm here to tell | | | | his sleep time you can get a lot of work |
| you it can be done. Consider me your personal | | | | done. But don't forget that you need to take |
| WAHM resource for solutions to your work at | | | | care of YOU! Without you at your emotional |
| home problems. Follow these simple steps to | | | | best even the smallest thing can turn you |
| create an organized and effective work at | | | | into a walking time bomb. |
| home environment. | | | | |
| | | | Take the time to relax in a hot bath, read an |
| Key to Success #1: Create A Flexible Schedule | | | | inspirational book, get a massage, take a |
| | | | walk alone, or whatever helps you to clear |
| Babies need to be on a schedule right away. | | | | your mind and focus on you. You are the most |
| In fact they thrive and actually cry less | | | | important part of this equation! |
| knowing that they can count on their needs | | | | |
| being met regularly. | | | | Key to Success #4: Ask For Help |
| | | | |
| For most babies you can follow a simple | | | | So often we think we're alone, or that we're |
| schedule of feeding time, followed by | | | | weak if we ask for help. This is a time in |
| activity time, then sleep time. The length | | | | our lives that we need help more than ever. |
| varies for each step depending on the age of | | | | We just can't possibly do it all. |
| your child. | | | | |
| | | | So ask your family, friends and neighbors to |
| Activities also vary according to age. Your | | | | assist your efforts. Whether it's for |
| baby could be staring at a mobile turning | | | | babysitting (even if you're there at your |
| above her, playing with brightly colored | | | | desk working) or buying groceries, enlist the |
| toys, reading a book with you, or banging | | | | support of others so you can have a break or |
| away on a drum and singing. | | | | accomplish a task. You deserve it! |
| | | | |
| Here's the key - your baby needs to learn how | | | | Key to Success #5: Exercise |
| to play on their own as well. So during part | | | | |
| of activity time you should allow your baby | | | | It doesn't matter if you do yoga, go to the |
| to enjoy playing alone. This will give you a | | | | gym, walk the neighborhood, hike the trails |
| little "you" time. You can keep a watchful | | | | or use a climbing wall. Be active every day. |
| eye on them from across the room, or | | | | Exercise keeps you young, stimulates those |
| depending on their age and if they are in a | | | | "feel good" hormones in your body, refreshes |
| safe area, you can use a baby monitor. | | | | you mentally, and helps get rid of those |
| | | | pregnancy pounds too. |
| Be sure to watch for signs of your baby | | | | |
| getting tired. If you delay putting them to | | | | Don't beat yourself up with an unrealistic |
| bed you can actually miss the window of | | | | exercise program. Just work it into your day. |
| opportunity and you'll have a very fussy baby | | | | You can even space it out. Studies show that |
| who won't go to sleep. At the first sign of a | | | | 10 minutes of exercise three times a day is |
| yawn or face and eye rubbing, it's time to | | | | just as beneficial as 30 minutes at one time. |
| put them down for a nap. | | | | The important thing is to do it regularly, |
| | | | and preferably every day. |
| Then you can knuckle down and accomplish your | | | | |
| work tasks. It's very important for you to | | | | Key to Success #6: Be Grateful Every Day |
| list your goals and action steps and do the | | | | |
| most important tasks first. That way if baby | | | | This is so important. Do this in the morning |
| wakes up early you have already done the most | | | | while you brush your teeth, shower, or even |
| important thing for your day! | | | | while feeding baby. Run through in your mind |
| | | | everything you are grateful for. |
| Repeat this schedule throughout your day so | | | | |
| you and your baby know what to expect and | | | | You can begin thinking "I am so happy and |
| when. They won't adapt to this overnight, be | | | | grateful that...my family is healthy, we have |
| patient and keep at it. And remember that the | | | | this roof over our head, we are warm and |
| length of each cycle will continually change | | | | safe, my parents live close by, we have food |
| as they grow. Stay flexible while still | | | | in the pantry, I have the ability to work |
| maintaining the cycle of feeding, activity | | | | from home, I have the skills I need to |
| then sleep. | | | | succeed, I have access to the internet to |
| | | | maintain a business" etc... |
| Key to Success #2: You Can Only Do What You | | | | |
| Can Do | | | | Don't skip this step. It will put you in the |
| | | | right frame of mind to accomplish your goals |
| This is so important for WAHM work at home | | | | every day. |
| moms. Think about it a second. You can only | | | | |
| do what you can do. There is no sense in | | | | Key to Success #7: Maximize Your Work Time |
| worrying that your day didn't go as planned | | | | |
| and you didn't achieve this or that. Get used | | | | As a work at home mom your attention is |
| to it! | | | | constantly being pulled in many directions. |
| | | | It's so important that the time you spend |
| You have an important job here, and that is | | | | working is maximized. |
| taking care of your little one. Work is | | | | |
| important and has its place but you have a | | | | What do I mean by maximizing your time? I |
| responsibility to keep yourself healthy and | | | | mean be sure that your efforts have a clear |
| sane. If your baby has a meltdown and you're | | | | and substantial reward. It makes no sense to |
| unable to get to your work for another hour, | | | | take time away from your children if you're |
| so be it. Don't waste energy worrying or | | | | not well compensated. In my business I make |
| fretting about it. | | | | at least $1000 per transaction, so I always |
| | | | know my time is well spent. |
| If you're going to be successful you'll have | | | | |
| to work at odd times and make sacrifices here | | | | You also want to utilize the concept of |
| and there. Maybe you'll do a little work | | | | leverage in your business. There should be a |
| after baby is in bed for the night, maybe you | | | | system in place so that you do the work once, |
| skip some TV time. Do what you can, when you | | | | but keep benefiting from those initial |
| can, and feel proud that you are taking steps | | | | efforts later on, without more time or input |
| every single day towards your goal - a happy | | | | from you. |